Artist Jeff Koons has issued a statement clarifying his limited interactions with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Koons confirmed he and his wife attended a dinner at Epstein's home at the invitation of an MIT professor, but denied that Epstein ever visited his studio, contradicting earlier reports based on newly released court documents.
The matter is significant as it highlights the ongoing fallout within the art world from associations with Epstein. Koons is one of several high-profile art figures, including collector Leon Black and dealers like Gagosian, named in the files, forcing a re-examination of professional and social ties to the disgraced financier.